Systems and methods for transient local commerce search

Abstract

A system, computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program, and computer-implemented method for a transient local commerce search service is provided. A search query including a user specified location and a user specified time period is received. One or more transient merchants temporarily located within the user specified location at least during the user specified time period are identified. A user interface displaying a map and an indicator of temporary location of the one or more transient merchants is displayed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 receiving a search query from a client device, the search query including a user specified location and a user specified time period, the search query being submitted via a first user interface presented on the client device; 
 identifying one or more transient merchants temporarily located within the user specified location at least during the user specified time period; and 
 causing the client device to display a second user interface in response to receiving the search query submitted via the first user interface, the second user interface including:
 a map; 
 
 a first indicator displayed in conjunction with the map, the first indicator indicating a number of merchants temporarily located within the user specified location during the user specified time period; and
 a second indicator displayed on the map, the second indicator indicating a temporary location of the one or more transient merchants, the one or more transient merchants being temporarily located within the user specified location during the user specified time period. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user specified time period includes one of: a range of times, an approximate time, and a date. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user specified location is a specified distance from a current geographic location of the user determined from information retrieved from the client device of the user. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user specified location includes an anticipated future location of the user. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the causing of the display of the second user interface includes providing display data to the client device. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identifying one or more transient merchants temporarily located within the user specified location at least during the user specified time period includes retrieving information from a social network. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 ; wherein the identifying one or more transient merchants temporarily located within the user specified location at least during the user specified time period includes retrieving information from a website of at least one transient merchant. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identifying one or more transient merchants temporarily located within the user specified location at least during the user specified time period includes retrieving a location history information of at least one transient merchant. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first user interface comprises:
 a first input field to receive the user specified location; and 
 a second input field to receive the user specified time period. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the search query includes an identifier of a product; and 
 the first user interface includes a third input field to receive the identifier of the product. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the product is a first product; and 
 the second user interface further includes a third indicator displayed on the map, the third indicator indicating a temporary location of a transient merchant that offers a second product, the second product being similar to the first product. 
 
     
     
       12. A system comprising:
 a memory; and 
 one or more processors configured to perform operations comprising: 
 receiving a search query from a client device, the search query including a user specified location and a user specified time period, the search query being submitted via a first user interface presented on the client device; 
 identifying one or more transient merchants temporarily located within the user specified location at least during the user specified time period; and 
 causing the client device to display a second user interface in response to receiving the search query submitted via the first user interface; the second user interface including:
 a map; 
 a first indicator displayed in conjunction with the map, the first indicator indicating a number of merchants temporarily located within the user specified location during the user specified time period; and 
 a second indicator displayed on the map, the second indicator indicating a temporary location of one or more transient merchants, the one or more transient merchants being temporarily located within the user specified location during the user specified time period. 
 
 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the user specified time period includes one of: a range of times, an approximate time, and a date. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the user specified location is a specified distance from a current geographic location of the user determined from information retrieved from the client device of the user. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the second user interface includes a third indicator indicating the current geographic location of the user. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the user specified location includes an anticipated future location of the user. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the identifying one or more transient merchants temporarily located within the user specified location at least during the user specified time period includes retrieving information from at least one of: a website, bldg, and a social network profile of the transient merchant. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the first user interface comprises:
 a first input field to receive the user specified location; 
 a second input field to receive the user specified time period; and 
 a third input field to receive an identifier of a product. 
 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the product is a first product; and 
 the second user interface further includes a third indicator displayed on the map, the third indicator indicating a temporary location of a transient merchant that offers a second product, the second product being similar to the first product. 
 
     
     
       20. A machine-readable medium embodying instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:
 receiving a search query from a client device, the search query including a user specified location and a user specified time period, the search query being submitted via a first user interface presented on the client device; 
 identifying one or more transient merchants temporarily located within the user specified location at least during the user specified time period; and 
 causing the client device to display a second user interface in response to receiving the search query submitted via the first user interface, the second user interface including:
 a map; 
 a first indicator displayed in conjunction with the map, the first indicator indicating a number of merchants temporarily located within the user specified location during the user specified time period; and 
 a second indicator displayed on the map, the second indicator indicating a temporary location of the one or more transient merchants, the one or more transient merchants being temporarily located within the user specified location during the user specified time period.